Robert Clack, Barking Abbey and Sydney Russell are the most in-demand secondary schools in Barking and Dagenham for 2026/27, new Department for Education figures show.
The DfE data, analysed by SchoolFacts, reveals that a quarter of the borough’s 12 secondary schools were oversubscribed on first-choice applications alone.
Robert Clack topped the list with 430 first-choice applications, followed by Barking Abbey with 423, Sydney Russell with 361 and Jo Richardson with 296.
Key details
- Most first choices: Robert Clack (430), Barking Abbey (423), Sydney Russell (361), Jo Richardson (296)
- Oversubscribed: A quarter of the borough’s 12 secondaries on first choices alone
- Tightest ratios: All Saints (1.2 first choices per place), Barking Abbey (1.18), Sydney Russell (1.01)
- All preferences: Goresbrook received 559 applications across all preferences for 124 places
- Source: Department for Education, via SchoolFacts
The top four
Robert Clack is the borough’s most sought-after secondary, with 430 families naming it as their first choice for September 2026 entry.
Barking Abbey runs it close behind on 423 first choices, while Sydney Russell attracted 361 and Jo Richardson 296.
The figures confirm the pecking order among the borough’s secondaries, with a clear gap between the most popular schools and the rest.
What the numbers mean
First-choice applications are only part of the story. What matters for whether a school is truly oversubscribed is how those applications compare with its published admission number (PAN) — the number of places it has to offer.
All Saints received 287 first-choice applications for 240 places, a ratio of 1.2 first choices per place. Barking Abbey’s 423 first choices for 359 places gives a ratio of 1.18, while Sydney Russell’s 361 for 357 places is 1.01 — only just oversubscribed.
At the other end of the scale, Warren received 239 first-choice applications for 240 places — a single place short of being oversubscribed on first choices.
The all-preferences picture
Looking beyond first choices to applications across all preferences tells a different story. Goresbrook received 559 applications in total for just 124 places — 4.5 applications per place — making it one of the most competitive schools in the borough when every preference is counted.
This matters because many families list several schools, and a school that is not oversubscribed on first choices can still be heavily oversubscribed overall.
Across the border in Havering
Neighbouring Havering shows a similar pattern of pressure. Redden Court received 427 first-choice applications for 197 places — a ratio of 2.2 first choices per place, one of the highest in the area.
The figures underline how competitive secondary admissions have become across east London, with popular schools attracting far more applications than they have places for.
What parents should know
Being oversubscribed does not mean a child cannot get a place — it means the school will apply its oversubscription criteria, which typically prioritise looked-after children, siblings and distance from the school.
Parents are always advised to use all of their preferences and to include at least one school where their child has a realistic chance of a place.
The national offer day for secondary places is in March, when families find out which school their child has been allocated.
Primary schools and beyond
The borough’s most in-demand primary schools were revealed in earlier DfE data, showing pressure building from the very start of children’s school careers.
It has been a difficult year for some of the borough’s schools. A 13-year-old boy was arrested at Dagenham Park School after reports of a knife on the premises.
The DfE figures cover all state-funded secondary schools in Barking and Dagenham. Families who miss out on their preferred school can join waiting lists and appeal to an independent panel.
